Prepared for EPA National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Phase I Permit

Prepared by City of Minneapolis and Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) is a program created in 1990 by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to protect water quality through the regulation of the discharge of pollutants to lakes, streams, wetlands, and other surface waters. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is the local authority responsible for administering this program, and specific permits are issued to regulate different types of municipal, industrial and construction activities.

PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION: We welcome your input! Providing an opportunity for public input into the development of Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) priorities and programs is one of the requirements of the current National Pollutant Discharge and Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Phase I Permit issued jointly to the City of Minneapolis and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board (MPRB) in January 2011. The first SWMP, prepared and submitted by the City and the MPRB, was approved by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) in June 2013. The SWMP was subsequently updated and submitted in September 2014.

Each year before submission of an Annual Report, one of the Permit requirements is to provide an opportunity for additional public input on SWMP priorities and programs, to be taken into account for future modifications to the Program. The current Stormwater Management Program can be found at the following link:

IN PERSON You can make comments IN PERSON at a Public Hearing that is scheduled before a meeting of the City Council’s Transportation & Public Works Committee on Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at 9:30 AM. The Public Hearing will take place in City Council Chambers in Room 317 City Hall, 350 South 5th Street, Minneapolis MN 55415.

IN WRITING Or you can make WRITTEN comments in any of the following ways (written comments must be received by Noon on Friday, July 17, 2015):

By mail: City of Minneapolis, Department of Public Works

(Please note: Due to mail delivery times, EMAIL or FAX are PREFERRED METHODS for submitting written comments)

Comments must be received by Noon on Friday July 17, 2015. The comments will be taken into consideration for future modifications to the Program. Any comments received will be included in the Annual Report in Appendix C.